DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University men's tennis team opened the season with a convincing 6-1 win over Tennessee Tech Friday night at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
 
"Overall we played great. We were ready to play and were excited for the start of the season since coming back to campus in early January. We came out with a few new guys in the lineup and did well in doubles," said Drake head coach Davidson Kozlowski. "Finley Hall, who just arrived from New Zealand three weeks ago, had an incredible first start as he helped win the doubles point and then picked up his first collegiate singles win, which was great to see."
 
Hall and junior Tom Hands helped set the tempo for the Bulldogs as they earned a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles. Senior Vinny Gillespie and sophomore Barny Thorold secured the doubles point for the Bulldogs with a 6-4 victory over Riku Kubota and Edardo Mena at No. 1 doubles.
 
Hands and Hall continued their momentum in to singles as Hand made quick work of Jorge Alfanzo, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, while Hall put Drake up 3-0 with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Marc Mila at No. 6 singles. Senior Ben Woods clinched the match with his 6-1, 7-6 win at No. 5 singles.
 
Junior Ben Clark, who is ranked 124th in the nation, beat Wencelao Albin, 6-3, 7-5 at No. 3 singles. Thorold collected the team's final win of the evening, as he came back from being down a couple of breaks in the first set to defeat Kubota, 7-6, 6-4 at No. 4 singles.
 
The Bulldogs have a quick turnaround as they play Northern Illinois at 9 a.m. and Western Michigan at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
 
Drake 6, Tennessee Tech 1
Jan. 19, 2018 at Des Moines, Iowa (Roger Knapp Tennis Center) 

Singles competition

1. MENA, Eduardo (TTU) def. Vinny Gillespie (DU) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-8)

2. Tom Hands (DU) def. ALFONZO, Jorge (TTU) 6-1, 6-2

3. #124 Ben Clark (DU) def. ALBIN, Wenceslao (TTU) 6-3, 7-5

4. Barny Thorold (DU) def. KUBOTA, Riku (TTU) 7-6, 6-4

5. Ben Wood (DU) def. GARCIA, Gonzalo (TTU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)

6. Finley Hall (DU) def. MILA, Marc (TTU) 6-1, 6-4

 

Doubles competition

1. Vinny Gillespie/Barny Thorold (DU) def. MENA, Eduardo/KUBOTA, Riku (TTU) 6-4

2. ALFONZO, Jorge/GARCIA, Gonzalo (TTU) def. Ben Wood/Ben Clark (DU) 7-6 (7-5)

3. Tom Hands/Finley Hall (DU) def. ALBIN, Wenceslao/JUSTO, Arthur (TTU) 6-3

 

Match Notes

Drake 1-0, Tennessee Tech 0-2

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,6,5,1,3,4)